Edwin Jackson Fits Cubs' Short, Long-Term Needs

The Cubs finalized the largest free agent deal of the Theo Epstein-Jed Hoyer regime today, a four-year, $52MM contract for 29-year-old righty Edwin Jackson. The expenditure was the sixth-largest for any free agent this year, and the team's parallel pursuits of Jackson and Anibal Sanchez surprised those who thought the club would again tread lightly in free agency as part of a long-term rebuilding plan. Cubs GM Jed Hoyer explained the rationale behind the signing with his opening remarks at Jackson's press conference...